Preparation of bis(2-morpholinoethyl) ether

ABSTRACT

2,2&#39;-Dimorpholinodiethyl ether is produced by reacting diethylene glycol with ammonia under pressure at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen. The active hydrogenation catalyst, before reduction with hydrogen, contains 20-85 wt.% alumina, zirconium dioxide, titanium dioxide and/or silica, 1-70 wt.% copper oxide (CuO), less than 20 wt.% nickel oxide with respect to CuO and 0-50 wt.% other metal oxide(s).  In the production of 2,2&#39;-dimorpholinodiethyl ether (DMDEE) by reacting diethylene glycol with ammonia under pressure at elevated temperature in the presence of hydrogen and a hydrogenation catalyst, the active catalyst, before reduction with hydrogen, contains 20-85 wt.% aluminum oxide (Al2O3), zirconium dioxide (ZrO2), titanium dioxide (TiO2) and/or silica (SiO2), 1-70 wt.% copper oxide (expressed as CuO), 0-50 wt.% magnesium, chromium, zinc, barium and/or calcium oxide (expressed as MgO, Cr2O3, ZnO, BaO and CaO) and less than 20 wt.% nickel oxide (expressed as NiO) with respect to CuO.



